Item #: 053285
ISBN: 9781606523384
Retail: $19.95
Rainbow Price: $14.25

Contrary to popular sentiment among non-computer-savvy people, it's pretty hard to accidently mess up a computer (though not impossible!). If you're a non-techie, or are looking for a comprehensive way for your kids to learn how to usefully handle computers, this book was written just for you. It doesn't waste time trying to explain what binary is, but instead presents practical uses for the computer as projects, allowing you to quickly become a master by following simple steps. Everything's detailed and includes pictures of what you should be looking for on your computer screen, so you won't be stumbling around hoping you're doing things right. You'll learn how to organize your files, keep software up-to-date, research topics on the internet, make and print greeting cards, create a budget spreadsheet, figure out why something might not be working, and much more. You'll be tweeting in no time! This book uses Windows 7 Home Premium as the example operating system, but most concepts can be applied using other Windows operating systems as well. 382 pgs., pb. –Chad

Item #: 031228
Retail: $7.00
Rainbow Price: $5.75

Item #: 031234
Retail: $7.00
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Item #: 031230
Retail: $7.00
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Item #: 023083
ISBN: 9780740337994
Retail: $99.95
Rainbow Price: $79.96

This Alpha Omega course is designed as a year-long high school elective covering computer terminology, hardware, software, operating systems, and information systems relating to the business environment. The units concentrate on standard software applications, as well as skills in personal/interpersonal communication and communication technologies. Keyboarding ability is considered a prerequisite for the course, and average reading level is assumed. Some keyboarding review is provided, but there is no instruction. The 10 units are: Communication Skills, Business Technology, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases, Telecommunications, Desktop Publishing, Presentation Technology, Computer Networks, and Computer Operating Systems. Each unit is a separate booklet and contains an introduction, a series of lessons/reviews/activities/self-tests, a unit review, and a unit test. Units 5 and 10 also include a semester review and a cumulative semester exam.

Each lesson within a unit is composed of the objectives, a vocabulary list, the actual lesson, a multimedia presentation (which can include interactive practice), a self-test, and some additional skill-building activities. Test problems include multiple choice, true/false, multiple select, matching, and essay response. Some of the skill-building activities are found on the enclosed multimedia disc. Each lesson will take, on average, about 50 minutes, and is designed so that the student can work independently; the teacher does not need a background in the subject. However, the teacher still has an important role to play. He/she can discuss the importance of the subject matter during an orientation, explain course goals, set schedules, set up the workspace for the student, stay interested and involved, and conduct appraisals of progress. For that purpose, "Teacher Check" areas are provided for recording scores and dates of completion. The teacher's guide orients the teacher well, and also provides reproducible alternate tests for re-checking mastery, plus answers for units and answers for self-tests and all other tests. The Switched-On Schoolhouse course is software-based on CD-ROM. Minimum System requirements: Windows Vista Service Pack 2/Windows 7/ Windows 8 & 8.1. ~ Caryl

Item #: 023279
ISBN: 9780740338090
Retail: $56.95
Rainbow Price: $45.56
Develop knowledge and problem solving skills in the area of operating systems, computer hardware and software. Students also become familiar with Microsoft Office®, Java®, and Adobe®, networking and the internet. Back-up procedures and recovery of computer systems are also covered in detail as are virus and data protection.

Item #: 031227
Retail: $7.00
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Item #: 031231
Retail: $7.00
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Item #: 031232
Retail: $7.00
Rainbow Price: $5.75

Item #: 031233
Retail: $7.00
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Item #: 031236
Retail: $7.00
Rainbow Price: $5.75

Item #: 031235
Retail: $7.00
Rainbow Price: $5.75

Item #: 053801
ISBN: 9781420623949
Retail: $14.99
Rainbow Price: $11.95

Item #: 072136
Retail: $0.00
Rainbow Price: $69.95

Item #: 036008
ISBN: 9781887371964
Retail: $60.00
Rainbow Price: $58.95

Item #: 053800
ISBN: 9781420623932
Retail: $14.99
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Item #: 023067
ISBN: 9780740321740
Retail: $32.99
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Item #: 003556
ISBN: 9781887371995
Retail: $0.00
Rainbow Price: $65.00

Item #: 065279
ISBN: 9781481470469
Retail: $3.99
Rainbow Price: $3.25

Item #: 042537
ISBN: 9781465469373
Retail: $5.99
Rainbow Price: $4.50

Item #: 023817
ISBN: 9781576907641
Retail: $9.99
Rainbow Price: $7.95

Keyboarding is now a critical skill that should be taught correctly from the start. When children are not given directed instructions on keyboarding, they will begin to develop their own techniques which generally limit accuracy and speed. Dr. Fry's Computer Keyboarding for Beginners is designed to teach your child to keyboard using the correct method. By the end of the 20 lessons, your child will know the location of the letters and symbols on the keyboard (and which fingers are used to strike which keys) and be able to accurately use the 10 finger touch type method. Enh

Item #: 067842
ISBN: 9781454921776
Retail: $14.95
Rainbow Price: $10.95

 

At its heart, coding is simple, especially with the help of robots! Utilizing three coding languages, this book strives to give young kids a simple activity-based introduction to programming. The first chapter begins with some basic computers and logic info before diving into some “pen and paper” programming challenges (such as getting a friend to draw by instructing them to move the pen in different directions). These simple activities lay the groundwork for learning to program increasingly complicated functions in Scratch, Logo, and Python. Finally, the last chapter gives students the opportunity to create their very own websites using Python and Javascript! With the help of an engaging cast of colored robots and pages that look like they come straight from a robot factory, learning to program is a snap. 128 pgs, pb.

Item #: 048753
Retail: $65.00
Rainbow Price: $63.95

Item #: 037495
ISBN: 9780985723170
Retail: $65.00
Rainbow Price: $54.95

This 34-week course is a complete study of and introduction to the tools in the Microsoft Office 2010 suite. The book begins with a glance inside the computer itself (with the aid of an adult), and winds its way through making letters, customized envelopes, documents and labels in Word and Publisher; creating charts, budgets and reading logs in Excel; how to create a captivating slideshow in PowerPoint using a variety of animations and features; and an introduction to the tools in Paint.

Item #: 008668
ISBN: 9780740304910
Retail: $9.00
Rainbow Price: $5.42

Item #: 014830
ISBN: 9781576904480
Retail: $16.99
Rainbow Price: $13.25

Whether it makes you want to stand up and cheer or tear out your hair, computers are here to stay. In keeping with the times, it's especially important that children become familiar with applications that are commonly used on these high-tech tools. The activities in this book are a great way to ease into the world of word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and the Internet. (Students with intermediate to advanced computer skills may not be challenged by these activities.)

This book contains 57 activities, each with detailed instructions as well as extension ideas. Extension ideas are helpful since most activities seem to be written for the younger grade levels. Technical skill objectives are listed for each activity, but no technical guidance is provided in activity instructions. The teacher must be familiar with his software of choice, whether it's Windows or Macintosh, and be able to demonstrate how to use it. No software is provided with this activity book.

Word processing activities usually entail writing poems, letters, or essays. The student will learn basic skills such as centering text, copying and pasting, setting page margins, inserting clip art, and spell checking. Spreadsheet activities include recording data, creating word searches, and calculating multiplication tables. Skills covered include adjusting column widths, highlighting cells, entering data, making and labeling bar, pie, and line graphs, and using formulas. Most of the Internet activities deal with research on topics such as Europe, the human body, and the White House. To complete these activities, you must have Internet access. The student will become familiar with basic Internet terminology and learn how to find a specific website, navigate a web page, use a search engine, and copy and paste pictures from the Internet into a different program. There are only two presentation activities, All About Me and PowerPoint Projects. Presentation software such as PowerPoint or Kid Pix is suggested. The student will learn how to make attractive slides, view a slide show, and practice presentation timing. Graphic skills activities involve creating travel brochures, advertisements, a cookbook, and a time line. Programs like PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, and Adobe Pagemaker can be used for the graphics activities. An extensive clip art gallery is also recommended. The student will learn how to insert pictures, create borders, format text, change page layouts, and how to use a tool bar. The 144 page book is reproducible. ~ Anh

Item #: 000379
ISBN: 9781465426857
Retail: $5.99
Rainbow Price: $4.50

A much more general intro to coding than other programming books, the aim of this book is to teach children how each specific aspect of how coding works through step-by-step lessons. Instead of creating a large project, or even working through multiple small projects to learn coding, children are given short exercises to work through. Each new concept (variables, drawing with the “Turtle” program, etc.) provides coded examples of easy tasks, and then asks the student to solve a slightly more difficult task. These include navigating a robot through a maze, creating and modifying multiple variables, or solving mathematics with programming. All programming is done in the popular Python 3.0 language which emphasizes simplicity and readability—children won’t have to struggle to figure out how their programs work, but they’ll still learn plenty of real-world coding. Quizzes at the end of each section reinforce learned topics. It is worth noting that while most kids should have little trouble understanding the book, it may be beneficial to have an adult accompany them along the early steps. Requires a desktop or laptop and an Internet connection to download Python 3. 40 pages. Paperback.

Item #: 039930
Retail: $49.95
Rainbow Price: $39.96

Item #: 014939
Retail: $0.00
Rainbow Price: $65.00

Item #: 014948
Retail: $65.00
Rainbow Price: $57.56